Why AT&T's proposed purchase of T-Mobile USA is a good thing

It hasn’t been a secret that T-Mobile USA has been on the chopping block for quite some time now. Deutsche Telekom has been involved with rumors of selling or otherwise relieving some of the stress from the US-based network for quite some time, and just recently we’ve even heard that Sprint would be the wireless carrier of choice to take T-Mobile USA under its wing. But, in a left-turn that came out of nowhere, AT&T and Deutsche Telekom announced that they had agreed to a purchase of T-Mobile USA by AT&T, and that it would be finished within a year’s time – as long as no hurdles got in the way, like the Department of Justice or FCC. Some may think it’s bad news, but I’m not so sure.

I’ve already summed up some of my thoughts on whether or not T-Mobile USA being purchased by Sprint would be a good idea, but overall I think it probably would be worse for the Now Network. Sprint, in my eyes, wasn’t the network that should take on that responsibility, if just for the fact that would mean Sprint would have to deal with a CDMA-based network, as well as a GSM-based one, too. But, it “makes sense” for AT&T to be the major wireless carrier that purchases T-Mobile USA, simply because both networks run on the GSM technology.

But, more importantly, I think it’s a great deal for T-Mobile USA because that means they’ll have a huge subscriber base, and one that (some) people aren’t wary about joining. (Of course there are some people who are wary about joining AT&T and would prefer T-Mobile USA, and vice versa.) But, truth be told, I think it is great news for AT&T. Because that means their 4G (HSPA+) network can actually start producing speeds worthy of that 4G label.

As of right now, AT&T’s 4G speeds are terrible, and their high speed uploads don’t exist. The network’s higher-ups say that there’s a fix coming soon, but there’s not an exact date being published as of right now. And, let’s face it, we can all hope that it’s before a year’s time, but there’s probably something that will get in the way of the upgrade to existing 4G devices. Something unforeseen. But, if it does take AT&T a year’s time to get their 4G network where it should be, then having access to T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network would be a dream come true. Their speeds are tested and verified as of right now, and expanding that speed even more than it is now would be good news for everyone under AT&T’s blue shadow.

There’s a lot of speculation regarding whether or not AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile USA will actually get accepted here in the States. The DOJ and FCC have a lot to look over, and considering that this deal would bring together the two largest GSM-based networks, and combine them into a single entity, there’s a strong chance that both regulators rule against it. Competition is a fierce thing in the USA.

What are your thoughts on the purposed purchase of T-Mobile USA by AT&T? Think it’s a good idea? Or are you hoping that the regulators shut it down before it has a chance to lift off? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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